Fish Antibiotics - Helpful or Not? - Pet Article Directory

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Fish Antibiotics - Helpful or Not?

Dealing with illness in a prized fish or an entire tank can be an emotional and stressful event. Everyone tries to ensure the optimal environment for their fish but sometimes disease sets in. There are many ways to address these types of issues, some being more effective than others. The following is a short explanation of the actions and potential uses of antibiotics in the treatment of ailing fish.

Antibiotics are powerful medications which should be used cautiously and generally speaking should be reserved for problems that cannot be controlled or cured using other treatment methods. Remember too, that antibiotics are useful against bacterial infections - NOT viral infections. I would also only recommend using them under the advice of a specialist with experience dealing with fish diseases. A hospital tank is recommended so that the medication will not harm the beneficial organisms in your main tank and you should not use a carbon filter during treatment as it will filter out the medication. There are several classes of antibiotics used for treatment of fish disease. The following is a list of medications along with diseases they may help treat.

1) Penicillins: The most well know class of antibiotics. Includes amoxicillin, ampicillin and of course penicillin. The penicillins are broad spectrum antibiotics used to treat gram-positive and some types of gram-negative bacteria. The penicillins are commonly used for the treatment of Sin ulcerations, Columnaris disease, White Body Slime, Infected eyes, Pop-eye, Fin and Tail Rot and Gill disease.

2) Tetracyclines: A class of broad spectrum antibiotics that are primarily active against gram-negative bacteria. This class includes tetracycline, doxycycline and minocycline. These medications can be helpful against Fin and Tail Rot, General Listlessness, Gill disease, Anorexia or other Unusual Behavior and Pop-eye.

3) Macrolides: Commonly used to treat Swollen eyes, Clamped fins, Patchy coloration and Heavy or Rapid breathing. This class of antibiotics are similar to the penicillins in spectrum but have a broader range. The most frequently used medication in this class in erythromycin.

4) Quinolones: The most commonly used medication in this class is ciprofloxacin. Because the quinolones block bacterial replication and DNA repair they may be effective against bacteria unresponsive to other classes of antibiotics. The quinolones are synthetic broad spectrum antibiotics and can be effective against many gram-negative and gram-positive organisms such as Aeromonas, Flexibacteria, Vibrios, Columnarmis infection, and Furunculosis.

I hope you enjoyed this brief explanation of the classes and uses for various antibiotics in relation to fish diseases. Before starting any treatment regimen you should check with a local specialist who can recommend effective treatment.